Marlin Model 60 Design Changes

 This is a follow up to my previous on how to date your Marlin Model 60.

1960 - The Model 60 was introduced, a refined and more affordable (to produce and to buy) version of the model 99.

1968 - The Model 60 gets serial numbers courtesy of the 1968 Gun Control Act 

1976 - the 2-piece feed throat was changed to a one-piece, the two are not completely interchangeable, you will need to change the cartridge lifter and lifter spring to make a new one piece fit in a gun made prior to 1976.

1976 - Marlin changed the front sight and magazine attachment, the old style used a one-piece sight and mag tube holder. The new ones used an under-barrel mag tube ring and a separate ramp sight.

1977 - Marlin changed the trigger guards, the oldest ones were aluminum and used three screws, they then went to plastic ones with two screws.

1980 - change to hammer & bolt??

1981 - The action retention system was changed, prior to 1981 the action was held in by two plastic pins, after 1981, the front used a metal pin the front trunnion that supported and aligned the front of the action, the rear plastic pin remained. You can use a newer action on an older rifle, simply find the correct size roll pin to replace the forward plastic pin.

1981 - The trigger guards were changed again, the new ones were thicker (middle one in pic below), in 1984 they added the slot for the Last Shot Hold Open (top one in pic below). The middle one is from a 1981 vintage rifle, and the bottom one is from a 60's vintage with the three screws.

1983 - Marlin ceases the use of the Glenfield name, that same year they stopped putting the checkering, oak leaf and squirrel embossing on the stocks (save for special editions).

1984 - the Last Shot Hold Open feature was added to the Model 60, a feature many consider to be the best update.

1985 - Marlin added the "mystery screw" to the bottom of the wrist (behind the trigger guard) it was added to strengthen the area that was prone to cracking.

1988 - The magazine was shortened from an 18-round capacity to a 15-round capacity, the magazine was now considerably shorter than the 22" barrel.

1999 - The barrel was shortened from 22" to 19" to match the shorter magazine.

2005 - the bolt handle changed, the older ones were hooked shaped and thicker (.401"), the newer ones are spindle shaped and thinner (.375").

The Venerable Marlin Model 60

Twice (in 2018 & 2020) we dedicated the month of November to the Marlin model 60. This month we are doing the same, well part of the month anyway. 

The venerable model 60, where to start? 11 Million units produced over 60 years (1960-2020), making it one of the longest produced and most produced guns in American history.

They were made in four cities in three different states, starting in 1960 in the old New Haven Connecticut plant, then in 1968 they moved to the modern North Haven plant just up the highway. When Marlin sold to Remington in 2010 the North Haven plant was closed and production moved to Mayfield Kentucy, then just before Remington went bankrupt production moved again to Huntsville Alabama.

Collectors seek out the earlier models, made in New Haven or North Haven with the "JM" stamp on the barrel.

Affordable, accurate, precise, easy to use, what is not to like about them? They have quite the following, even more so now that they are out of production.

Posts regarding the model 60:

Featured Gun: The Marlin Glenfield Model 60 

How to Date your Marlin Model 60

Marlin Model 60 Mods

Marlin Model 60 Upgrades

Marlin Model 60 Gun Porn

Marlin Model 60 Gun Porn II

Projects:

I made a trade for this Marlin model 70 Papoose, I was intrigued by the custom stock, I still do not know who made it or if it was a custom one-of-a-kind design.

I recently acquired this project, it is a model 60 brand labeled as a Coast to Coast model 40, and supposedly quite rare, I am told that only 2109 of these were made in 1974. I only have the barrel, magazine, receiver and bolt.

I have this 1981 vintage model 60 that I basically got for free, it was in a package deal with a S&W Model 29 and a Remington 11-48 shotgun. The stock has a bad crack in the wrist, which has been glued, but it is ugly and I don't trust it.

I bought this factory Marlin walnut stock on ebay, I am not thinking of building another "deluxe edition" like the Super Deluxe Edition, maybe call this one the "Classic Deluxe Edition"?

The Marlin Model 60 Night Prowler Project

I took a rusty, beat-up model 60 that I paid $50 for and made a critter getter.

Then I tried my hand at building a custom pistol grip stock

before completely rebuilding the gun using a Badger bullpup stock

Project Night Prowler Redux pt. 5

Perhaps one of my most inventive projects, I took another $50 gun show find and turned it into the legendary Marlin Model 60 Super Deluxe Project

Model 60s/70s I no longer own:

My first actual rifle was a Marlin model 70, I bought it at Big 5 Sporting Goods in Burien WA, for $99 in 1991

I made a trade for this 2001 vintage model 60 with a pressed checkered stock, I can't remember why or when I sold it.

I paid $120 for this 2004 vintage model 60SB also with a pressed checkered stock, I traded it for $400 worth of gun parts, most of which I sold to fund other projects.